TF Episode: The God Gambit

I just rewatched this episode and it left me with many thoughts. Thoughts I would have never came close to when I was a kid. There has always been this debate about religion among people in society. Atheists will make the case that religion is just a form to control a population. Then they'll try to use historic incidents involving a goverment or authoritive group to back up that side of the debate. This episode opens up that debate and seems to be written from an atheistic perspective. This plot can really make you wonder who in history may have attempted to use religion for their own gain without really believing it. I believe the word may be "Blasphemers". It also makes me think of the historical knowlege about Ancient Mayan and Aztec society. That is after all what this story is modeled after. In ancient times shamans would use the belief in gods to remain in power and keep power to the king and control the population. But then again, they would go so far as to make blood sacrafices on those alters in the middle of the jungle, and this episode combined with that historical knowlege makes you really wonder how much of that was truely believed by those in power and how much of it was to control the masses.

You wouldn't think this would be in a kids show. But then again you wouldn't think words like "heretic" would be used either. It's pretty heavy stuff.

Does any one ever get thoughts about complex issues such as this that maybe you didn't know or care about when you were a kid, from watching a Transformers episode? Any episode?

What did you think about this episode?

Other thoughts I had was, "Why isn't Starscream the one in charge and getting worshipped here?" Astrotrain took total control of the group and was totatally B.A. It was probably his best moment of the entire series. Starscream cowarded like a little girl (which is normal) but I thought it was his great ambition to be leader of the Decepticons and worshiped. So what gives with that?

I also think this was Jazz's greatest episode. Jazz was awesome in The God Gambit. It really showed his good side and showed off his fighting skill. He also appeared to be portrayed a little back into his 2nd in command role and was in control.

I love that episode, and agree it seems to be written by atheists pushing an agenda into impressionable minds. However, discussion of this episode is dangerously close to breaking rule #10. I predict a locked thread.

I hope not. I just want to discuss the episode along with thoughts episodes can provoke, not have a debate. That would be a record if a thread got locked just because of a plot in a Transformers episode.

Good Thread. Always wanted to discuss this episode. Also, the fact that this is one of the only, if not few, episodes where a human character dies, because that priest guy certainly didn't go to his happy place

This is one of my favourite episodes of the old show, simply because it focuses on Astrotrain a lot and I really liked him as a kid.

I agree Boy Who Screams, I don't think that the idea of the episode was to push Atheism (or anything for that matter) but rather as a lesson on blind, unquestioning and irrational loyalty out of fear, to anything.

And besides, it also gifted Astrotrain with one of his funniest lines of dialogue ever.

its episodes like this that make you REALLY think "what were the writers thinking?"
and i mean that in a good way

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It also lends some sort of credit to the fact that, for some writers, the show was more than just a way to sell toys. Even if they weren't trying to make a point with the episode, we're here discussing it.

Kinda more on topic, another episode that sticks with me as subtle "critical thinking" introduction is The Golden Lagoon. The way Beachcomber sadly laments the Autobot's "victory" at the end is awesome.

Kinda more on topic, another episode that sticks with me as subtle "critical thinking" introduction is The Golden Lagoon. The way Beachcomber sadly laments the Autobot's "victory" at the end is awesome.

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"Critical thinking." That's the phrase I really needed for this thread. Thanks! Good post!

You know though, I'm also wondering if any one has any ideas why Astrotrain took authority of Starscream in this episode. To me that just seemed a bit odd beings how Starscream was always trying to overthrow Megatron to lead the Decepticons himself, and especially with the chance to be worshiped right there on that planet you would think he wouldn't stand for that from Astrotrain. But then maybe he didn't mind it because Astrotrain was his ticket home? That and he was low on energy? What do you guys think?

"Critical thinking." That's the phrase I really needed for this thread. Thanks! Good post!

You know though, I'm also wondering if any one has any ideas why Astrotrain took authority of Starscream in this episode. To me that just seemed a bit odd beings how Starscream was always trying to overthrow Megatron to lead the Decepticons himself, and especially with the chance to be worshiped right there on that planet you would think he wouldn't stand for that from Astrotrain. But then maybe he didn't mind it because Astrotrain was his ticket home? That and he was low on energy? What do you guys think?

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If you wanna be technical, the episode was supposedly written with Megatron being worshipped instead of Astrotrain but since Astrotrain was a new toy at the time, they replaced Megatron with him.

I also really liked this episode and I didn't take it as an attack on religion at all but rather just not following something blindly without understanding it. It actually pushed the envelope especially considering its timeframe (anyone remember how much people talked about the Dungeons and Dragons cartoon?). I also liked the prominent role of Astrotrain for this one. He really was a powerful Decepticon especially considering he was one of the few who could space travel. I also agree that Golden Lagoon is another one that really makes you think ESPECIALLY the last minute or so of the episode.